Hood ledge plate and multiple-compartment hood for automobiles



K. FEILCKE April 8, 1930.l

HOOD LEDGE PLATE AND MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT HOOD FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 12, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l wn'NEssEs April s, 1930. K, FEHLCKE 1,754086- HOOD LEDGE PLATE AND MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT HOOD FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July l2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TMF ATTOR N EY April 8,y 1930. K. FElLcKE 1,754,086

HOOD LEDGE PLATE AND MULTIPLE COMPARTMNT HOOD FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 12, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HNVENTOR Karl z'lck@ BY @MA/Q i ATTORNEY i Patented Apr. 8,1930

UNITED STATES KAEL EEILGEE, OE ToLEno, OHIO HOOD Limanv PLATE A ED MULTIPLECOMPAETMENT Hoon non AUTOMOBILES `Application. led July 12,

My invention relates to a novel front structure for automobiles, comprising a hood with l a number of separate compartments underneath, and a new element of construction termed a hood ledgep plate, which forms the characteristic part ot' this front structure.

On all ,present day automobiles the hood invariabl rests with its front end on the'radithe shape ofthe radiator wherever a streamline effect is to be mailitained;A The natural result of this conventional iront structure arrangement is that the space occupied by the car is poorly utilized for its functional purposes ,r a large part of the chassis in front of the bodyis reserved for the machinery only and cannot be used forthe carrying of merchandise, passengers and baggage, and the full width of the chassis cannot be utilized for body purposes because the streamlines have to start with; a rather narrow radiator.

The main object of my invention is to uti-` lize by meanspof a novel front structure, a large ercentage of the spacen front of the body or storage'purposes, and by using a hood ledge plate as the starting point for the hood' and body streamlines, utilize the full width of the chassis for body purposes, while, at the same time, producin an as'- semblage having proper aesthetic e ects.

' A further object is to provide a wider and l roomier body on a comparatively shorter wheelbase chassis than is now possible by making some ofthe space up to this time eX- clusively reserved for the lpower plant available for the driver and front seat passengers. Other objects of lmy invention are -to strengthen and yet to reduce Vin weight the iront structure of an automobile by combinin in a new construction element, the hood le ge plate, the functions of somepor all of certain` parts appurtenant to the car, such as t fender brackets, lamp brackets, license plate 5D holders and horn brackets; to eliminate the.

1928. Serial Noar292,074.

customary channels between the hood and` .front fenders and other dirt and snow-catching nooks and corners inevitable with the con- -ventional front structure arrangement Of head lamps and fender brackets, and so make the car easier to clean.

A final objectof Inyinvention is to ultimately relieve tramo congestion to .a considerable extent by means of automobiles embodying my novel front structure. As these 6 vehicles are shorter and utilize a greater percentage of road space they occupy for their functional purposes than resent day cars, more goods or people can he transported in f them through a certain street in a given time, and more of `them can be parked simultaneously in the same street or garage.

The nature of my invention and the distinguishing features in which the invention resides, as well as .their advantages, will clearl appear as the description proceeds.

vRe erence is to be had'to the accompanying drawings forming a part or' this specification, it being understood that the drawings v are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.. y

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section oit the iront portion of an automobile embodying my invention, the section being indicated by the line l-l i'n Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an automobile, my invention being embodied in the f front part thereof; Y

Figure 3 is a vplan view' with ,the hood removed; f f 85 Figure d is a transverse vertical section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section Vshowing a'portion of a movable i partition and -one means of holding it in place, the view including a portion ot the fixed bottom part of theyront structure of the car to which the movable partition is ias# tened; f

Figure 6 is a plan view of the parts shown 95 in Figure o; i Figure 7 is a perspective view of the front structure simplified in order to bring out clearly theI shape of the side compartment by .omitting the radiator, head lamps, front 100 withf its movable side fao fenders, pedals, steering post, the power plant and the hinged portions of the hood. (3

In the illustrated example of; y invention the'4 numeral 13 indicates the new construction element designated as thehood ledge plate. This hood led e plate 13 has a deplressed flan e 14 whic forms a rest for the ont end o the hood, the rear end of same being supported by an an le iron 16 on a body part 17s Thehood lncludes a center piece 15 bolted at its front edge tothe flange 14 and at the rear end to angle iron 16 and hinged=portions 115 on.' either side of center piece 15, which hinged side portions 115 when raised in the usual manner alford access to the spacegundervthe hood. .The hood ledge plateV 13 land the hood iec'es 115 form the outer shell of my novel ront structure. The three compartments provided under this shell are designated respectively by the numerals 18, 118, 218. These compartments are produced by subdividing the space under the hood by means of two stationary lengthwise upper artitions 123 bolted to the center piece 15' of t e hood, the bod and the hood led e late respectively, an by two removab e ower partitions 23. The bottoms of the side compartments'lS and 218 are formed by horizontal plates 26 attached tothe frame side rails, the body and the hood ledge plate 13. The numerals 24 indicate flanges at the bottom of either partition 23, which fian es are adaptedto -be secured by any suitable asten- `ing means 25 to hold the same to the bottom plates 26 Aof the sidecompartments when in closed position.

The central compartment 118 accommodates any approved power plant A, thetwo side compartments 18 and 218 are reserved for storage 'purposes'and large enough to hold atleast ordinary suitcase or other articles for ,which there is usually little room ina full. occu ied conventional passenger car.` Un enea compartment 218 and accessible-through a hinged door 119 is the bat- I` tery. lD 'suspended in a hanger structure 19 jon'the frame""side rail.

l ','To make the power plantA easil accessi- 115 are folded up and any artices stored 1n the com artments` 18"and 218 have been reble from either'sideafterthe hin e portions moved, t epartitions 23 can be quickl moved out Vof the way by tilting them up an sliding them over thercentral compartment onto chanposition attaine v raising movement'of one ofthe partitions 23 j v is shown in dash lines in the compartment 218 at the left of Figure 4, while the said parti-r,

nel bars 22 provided for the lpprposeon the bodyandhoodled platel3.V intermediate during-the tiltin up or tion 23 is shown also vin fulllines in its normal 4vertical position at the left of the said Figure 4. In addition to the said dotted line an. full line positions at the left of Figure '22, the left hand partition resting on the lower ledges or fianges of said channel bars 22. Hence, both partitions can be raised out of the way at the lsame time to rest on an upper and lower flange res ectively of channel bars 22, thereby esta lishing communication between the several compartments 18, 118, 218 yto afford access to the various compartments. Thus the power plant is made quickly and easily accessible notwithstanding the bulky structure that surrounds it.`

The most suitable 'arrangement of the compartments and their number depends, of course, on the particular t e of motor used. With V-shaped or radial engmes, for instance other arrangements, perhaps lwith horizontal partitions, may be more convenient and I do not confine my invention to the particular subdivisions shown. I A Compartment 18 is not only used as a storage space but contains also the clutch pedal B, the brake pedal C, the steerin post S, and also communication is establis ed between said compartment 18 and the body front compartment by an opening M large enough for the driver to put his feet into compartment 18 to operate the pedals. With such an arrangementthe driver can be seated partly alongside the engine instead of back of it 'as is 7n ow universally the case, and it becomes posslble to puttlhe saine length of body as used on a conventional typecar on an appreciably shorter wheelbase chassis. ments can be made on the other side for the front seat passenger to put his feet into compartment 218.

AThe hood' ledge plate 13 is attached lin an `suitable manner to the frame and exten s clear across thecar in order to support the front/ fenders 29, thus. taking'the place of the customary fender brackets. The hood ledge plate is braced towards the ,rear by the upturned front ends 261' of the bottom plates 26 which are shaped to. give suitable clearance for the front wheels when the latter are turned for steering. These'upturned front ends thus perform the function of the' rear halves of the conventional fender Skirts. Y i" The upturned ledge 262 on ends 261 forms with the hood ledge plate vilange 14, angle iron 16, and the downward side ange of the bottom plate '26 a rest for the hinged portion'of the hood when in closedposition. This hinged' portion of the hood is cut in Similar arrangeiront to follow the curved shape olthe ledge 262 in order to give proper fender clearance. The front fender 29 is bolted directly to ledge 262 and the hood ledge plate 13 and in this manner the customary gap between the hood and iront fender is eliminated and a clean and smoothexterior without dirt and snow-catching nooks is obtained. a n f The hood ledge plate 13 also carries the head lights 28 which are mounted in holes H, the plate thus taking the place of the customary lamp brackets, and the licensezplate and horn, while not shown on the drawings, may also be directly attached to the plate thus eliminating their usual brackets, said ledge presenting suiiicient area for the pur pose. The hood ledge plate 13 consequently simplifies and lightens the whole front structure of an automobile by eliminating 'also flows through hole N into the center compartment 118. v l

Compartments 18 and 218, being adjacent to the engine space and separated from the latter only by the 4removable partitions 23, are likely to becomeratl'er hot at times. 'l`o keep the temperatures in them down ventilators V have been installed in the hood ledge plate 13 where it forms the iront walls 4ont' these compartments, and the air entering by means of same sweeps through the compartment and escapes through the opening M into the body vfront compart ment also Ventilating the latter effectively.

ll would, state further that while the illustrated example constitutes a .practical embodiment of my invention, l do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure .50 Afrom the spirit of the invention as defined inJ the appended claims.

' l. In an automobile, a comparted structure having a body compartment, and compartments forward of the cowl and communicating with the body compartment, and means for controlling the operation of the vehicle, said means being disposed in one of said second mentioned compartments.

2. In an automobileQa pluralit of compartments including a motor compartment; together with a hood extending over the compartments, anda ledge plate extending over all-of the said compartments from side to side and affording support for said hood at the front. 1

3. ln an automobile, i afront structure,

tions being movable from a position divid- `ing the structure into compartments to a position away from said rst mentioned posi-- tion, and means in said structure affording support for said partitions in the second mentioned position.

Il.. ln an automobile, a front structure, movable vertical -partitions dividing said structure into a lplurality of compartments, and a horizontally disposed angle bar above the central eompartment,said bar presenting upper and lower flanges, and said partitions being movable respectively onto the upper and lower flanges of said bar. v

5. In an automobile, a plate attached crosswise to the Vtrame in front of the engine, lengthwise extensions to this plate which act as fender skirts, and means connected with said plate to support the hood and the front fenders. 4

6. ln an automobile, aA plate attached crosswise tothe frame in front ol the en e, said plate adjoining the fender skirts at either side jand supporting the Ahood and the front fenders, said plate also forming the front wall of the compartment or the compartments under the hood, except where openings in the plate admit air for cooling or ventilating purposes; 1 l

7. In an automobile, a body, a hood structure adjoining said body, said structure being bounded in the rear by the body, in front by a hood ledge plate extending across the vehicle Jfrom fender skirt to vfender skirt, said :tender skirts partially forming the side walls of the structure, a removable hood, and suit neeted 4with said plate for supporting the 'hood and the front fenders. L

9. ln an automobile, a body, anindependstructure comprising a hood ledge plate in front extending across the vehicle -from tender skirt to tender skirt, said plate having an opening to (admit air for the cooling system of the engine, and means connected with said plate for supporting the-hood, the front tenders and the radiator, said radiator having a shape .entirely independent of the contour of the plate.

l Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State otOhio this 2nd day of July, A. D.

' L FEILCKE..

lllti ne l' 

